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Soccer

Stefan de Vrij of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring a goal against Spain during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador June 13, 2014. (REUTERS/Tony Gentile)

"What happened tonight was a great surprise," del Bosque said post-game. "It's not a happy moment, but as a sportsman I'd like to congratulate the Dutch side. They totally overwhelmed us in the second half."

Two goals apiece from Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben made this veteran Spanish side, largely the same since 2010, look, well, four years older.

After a controversial Diego Costa penalty saw Xabi Alonso put the Cup holders in front a half-hour in, Spain's defensive four fell apart. Its goalkeeper became a laughing stock.

And it got progressively worse as Spain continued to try to play with a type of free-flowing, non-defensive flair that has seen it lift trophies in the past.

"We didn't really have to make the match," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal said. "We knew the Spanish team wanted to dominate the match."

Leaving plenty of time for his front pairing to take things over on the counter-attack.

Minutes before halftime, a Dutch equalizer came out of nowhere. A simple diagonal from fullback Daley Blind beat Spain's sleepy back line.

With a step on aging Spanish defender Sergio Ramos, the Netherlands' Van Persie laid out to produce a diving header from the top of the box that floated over Iker Casillas and into the goal to make it 1-1.

At that point, though, the Spanish were feeling good about what they'd just produced. To that point they'd enjoyed more than 60% possession, the Dutch struggling to hang on.

But after the break, roles reversed.

Well, actually, it looked like only one team returned after halftime.

"We have never been a defensive team, but we've always coped well," del Bosque said. "Today we were weak in defence."

Another simple ball over the top split Spain's central pairing again in the 54th-minute, allowing Robben to break a tackle before putting the Dutch in front.

The Netherlands added another off a corner just after the hour mark when Stefan De Vrij rose to meet the floated ball at the back post -- the product of a Casillas miss-play.

At that point Spain had already stopped playing, their aging frames given out.

Before Friday's match, del Bosque was asked if the average age in his team was of any concern. Twenty-four hours ago it wasn't.

"We are at our best," del Bosque said at the time, a statement he might like to have back. "These players have been extraordinary for what they've done. They aren't here for what they've done in the past. They're here for what I think they will do."

He didn't think they'd produce this kind of clunker.

Neither did van Gaal.

"We have enough players who will make sure we don't lose ourselves in euphoria," van Gaal said. "It's also got to do with this extraordinary circumstance. We were sure Spain would attack this way ... We knew we would have these opportunities."

There will be honest questions as to whether or not del Bosque should consider a 'keeper change, too.

Van Persie added a fourth to the Dutch cause in the 74th when he jumped on a poor touch from Casillas to score his second of the game.

"When a team loses a match, it doesn't depend on one single player," del Bosque said. "We can't blame Iker Casillas."

Finally, in case the entire world wasn't aware of how overmatched Spain's back four is at the moment, Robben blew past Spain's Gerard Pique in a 40-metre foot race that was akin to Donovan Bailey smoking Michael Johnson in 1997.

Alone in front of goal, the Dutchman undressed Casillas before adding to Spain's four-goal misery.

"It's not the time to point blame at anyone," del Bosque added. "We're all to blame."

For Spain, the result Friday was the same from four years ago in South Africa, but the performance was a thing of shame.

There are major questions as to whether this Spanish defence can contain Chile next week in Rio.